Electrical apparatus



May 27, 1930. M. MONEYRON ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Marcel M azazyron y 1930- M. IMONEYRON 7 1,760,656

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n, I M I 14 MM m n; 1M1.

o o n 000 Marcel M072 qyr'on Ma 27, 1930. M, ONEYRON 1,760,656

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed April 9, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ire -UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MARGEL MONEYRON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Application filed April 9, 1927, Serial No. 182,376, and in France December 10, 1926.

My invention relates broadly to electrical apparatus and particularly to improved transformers in the form of rotary phase converters.

A particular object of the invention 1s to provide improved apparatus of the kind described for transforming balanced polyphase alternating current into single phase alternating current.

Another particular object of the lnventlon is to provide improved apparatus of the kind described for supplying single phase alternating current at a certain voltage to the electrodes of welding apparatus.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide improvedapparatus of the kind described for supplying electrical current to other electro-thermal devices.

Still another particular object of the in- 29 vention is to provide improved apparatus of the kind described which may be adjusted to deliver electrical current of a predetermined number ofamperes to electro-thermal devices, or the equivalent, and which will deliver the electrical power at a substantially constant rate when the apparatus has been properly adjusted.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described,

and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus embodying the invention, which apparatus includes an improved rotary phase converter;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through the improved rotary phase converter;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic end elevation of the improved rotary phase converter;

Fig. 3* is a section taken on line 33 of Fig.3;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating the operation of a transformer;

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating certain characteristics of the rotary phase converter shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of an annulus or armature adapted to be mounted upon the staor of the converter shown in Figs. 1, 2 an 3;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic View of apparatus embodying another form of the invention, which apparatus includes an improved rotary phase converter;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through the improved rotary phase converter shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a section taken substantially on line 7--I7 of Fig. 6, the windings of the converter being omitted;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken through a rotary. hase converter embodying another form 0 the invention;

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Flg. 9 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through a rotary phase converter zinbodying still another form of the'invenion;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through a rotary phase converter embodying still another form of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through a rotary phase converter embodying still another form of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic transverse section taken through a rotary phase converter embodying still another form of the invention; and

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the form of the E. M. F. curve generated in the output circuit of the rotary phase converter shown in Fig. 12.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3", I have shown apparatus embodying a preferred form of the invention. This apparatus is particularly adapted to be used in arc welding operations but it will become apparent as this description proceeds, that apparatus 'Y winding 21 w ich is connected by conductors 22, 23 and 24 to-a suitable source (not shown) of electrical current. It Wlll be noted that the conductors 22, 23 and '24.

are connected to the Y windin 21 in such manner that the number of e ective turns in the winding may be ad'usted at will. The Y windin 21 is indicate in Fig. 2 in which I have sown a diagrammatic transverse section taken through the rotary phase converter 20, the Y winding 21 being mounted in a. stator 26 which is also wound with a sin 1e hase winding 27, the stator bein pre erahly laminated. It may be mentione that the positions of the windings 21 and 27 may be reversed, if it is so desired. As indicated in Fig. 1, one terminal of the single phase winding 27 is connected to an electrode 28 formin part of arc welding apparatus which is esignated enerally by the reference character 29. 'l he electro e 28- may comprise the metal upon which work is to be performed. The arc welding apparatus v29 also comprises an electro e 31 which is generall manipulated by the operator during wel in operations. The electrode 31 is connecte to the other terminal of the winding 27 in such manner that the number of effective turns in the winding may be varied. It may be mentioned at this point in the description that, in some instances, both electrodes are manipulated by the operator during the welding operation.

Designated generally by the reference character 33 is a rotor which is preferably laminated and either of the pole type or of the cylindrical type and comprises a winding 34 of the squirrel cage type and may .also comprise a winding 35, the winding 35 being connected to any suitable source of unidirectional current. Thus, I have shown a storage battery 37 which has one of its terminals connected by a brush 39 to one terminal of the winding 35, the other terminal of the storage battery 37 being connected through a variable resistance 40 and a brush 39" to the other terminal of the winding 35. The winding 34 may be a short circuited winding or a copper cylinder. The winding 34 is provided to balance the load on the phases supply. When the winding 35 is employed, the rotor rotates at synchronous speed, and it is then easy, by varying the direct current in the windin to increase the power factor of the rotary p ase converter.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I have illustrated diagrammatically, means whereb the effective turns in the windings 21 an 27 may be varied at will, the arrangement being such that the ratio between the effective turns on one winding and the effective turns in the other winding will remain substantially constant. Thus, I have shown a hub 42 which may be rotatably journaled upon a shaft 43 which carries the rotor 33. Rigidly secured to the shaft 43 and electrically insulated therefrom are a plurality of switch elements 45, 46, 47 and 48, theswitch elements being engageable with a plurality of contacts 49 and each of the switch elements 45, 46 and 47 be- \ng en ageable with a plurality of contacts 50. T e contacts 49 are taps taken from the winding 27 and the contacts 50 are taps taken from the three legs of the Y winding 21, the arrangement being such that if the hub 42 is angularly displaced around the shaft 43 to bring the switch element 48 into engagement with a predetermined contact 49, the switch elements 45, 46 and 47 engage corresponding contacts 50 in such manner that the ratio between the eflective turns of the winding 27 and the effective turns of the winding 21 remains unchanged no matter which one of the contacts 49 is engaged by the switch element 48. To hold the swltch elements 45, 46, 47 and 48 in any desired position, I preferably provide a lever 52, or the equivalent, which is provided with a pin 53 in its free end, the pin 53 being adapted to engage holes or depressions 54 formed in the frames 55 of the rotary phase converter 20. The pin is yieldingly urged toward the frame by a leaf s ring 56, or the equivalent, the construction eing such that thepin may be withdrawn from any one of the depressions 54 to permit the lever 52 to be angularly displaced relative to the shaft 43 into another position wherein the pin 53 may be engaged with'a different hole or depression 54. The purpose of this construction will presently appear but it is to be understood that in some instances, I may prefer to mount the switch elements in such manner that it can be angularly displaced independently of the switch elements 45, 46 and 47 so that the ratio between the effective turns of the windings 21 and 27 may be varied.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the winding 27 is spaced fromthe winding 21 but that the iron or other suitable material from which the stator 26 is formed insures a magnetic circuit so that the winding 27 will deliver a single phase current to the welding apparatus 29 when the winding 21 is energized through the conductors 22, 23 and 24. Formed in the stator 26 intermediate the windings 21 and 27 are a plurality of longitudinally extending apertures 58, the construction being such that a path for magnetic leakage flux is formed between the windings 21 and 27. Surrounding duced by the current flowing through the winding 27 tends to divert the magnetic flux from the path 61 to the-leakage path 60. It is readily understood that the proportion of magnetic flux flowin through the leakage path 60 relative to t e total ma netic flux owing through the paths 60 an 61 determines the amount of electrical current that will flow through the winding 27 and that if the machine is adjusted in such manner that a lar er or smaller proportion of the magnetic ux will pass through the leakage path 60, a smaller or a larger current, respectively, will flow through the winding 27.

In Fig. 4, I have shown a well known diagram which is commonly employed in connection with transformers to graphically illustrate the operation thereof. In this diagram, the line AB represents the direction of the current in. the wlnding 27. The line AC represents the E. M. F. in the output circuit at load. It will be noted that the line AC makes an an 1e with, the line AB and indicates that t e E. M. F. at load is. not in phase with the current. The line AD represents the E. M. F. in the output circuit at no load and the line CG represents the ohmic drop i. e. the resistance multiplied by the current. The line DG represents the reactance drop in volts and, of course, the true drop is represented by the line DO.

The length of the line DG is proportional to the product of the reactance of the output circuit multiplied by the current in amperes flowing therein. This statement may be expressed in the following formula:

no: 2 1rfLI wherein, f=the frequency of the circuit L=the coefllcient of induction of machine (This coeflicient is very large due to the leakage path between the two windings 21 and 2 I =the current in the winding 27 If the value 211' is represented by the letter 10 it follows that DG=LwI Referring now to Fig. 4, the line A B represents the direction of the current flowing in the circuit which includes the above mentioned winding 27 and the line A C represents the E. M. F. at load, it being understood that the E. M. F. will be in phase with the current because of the are between the electrodes 28 and 31. The line O'D represents a value corresponding to the value re resented b the aforementioned line DE. The line C is disregarded because the value it represents is exceedingly small as compared to the value represented by the line DG, or the line C'D. This is due to-the'large value of LW with respect to the resistance of the machine. Obviously, the line CD is substantially equivalent to either of the aforementioned lines DG and OD and the len h of the line CD may be expressed by the ol owing formula:

It is well known that the voltage across th terminals of an arc is a function of the length of the arc. In order to make a good weld, it

is desirable to maintain the length of the are as constant as possible. If the length of the are between the welding terminals 28 and 31 is maintained constarfs, the value of the E. M. F. at load (as represented b the line A'C') is constant and the line A'H which is equal to the length of the line C5D is constant because it is a component of the line AC' and of the line AD' which represents the value of the E. M. F. at no load, the E. M. F. at no load being constant. Therefore, we can represent the line or value A'H by the constant K and state that v From this formula. we can determine the value of the current I as a function of the values L and K and we see that as long as the length of the arc is constant, the value I of the-current is also constant But it is very diflicult for an operator to maintain the length of the arc absolutely constant as the electrode is fusing and therefore, the length of the arc varies slightly during the welding operation and the E. M. F. across the terminals of the arc also varies. Assuming that the E. M. F. across the terminals of the arc ranges between the points C and C in Fig. 4, and that the value of the current ranges from to T the power in the are which is equal to the product of the current by the voltage is substantially constant and provides a substantially constant amount of heat in the arc. The value gives the K! value of the current at the instant the circuit is short circuited before starting the are. It will be noted that the current flowing at this instant is very little larger than the welding current.

In welding operations, it is necessary to employ welding electrodes of different sizes and therefore, it is necessary to employ various values of current. As established above, K

In order to vary the value of the Welding current, it is necessary to Vary the value of L, that is to say, the ratio of the leakage flux of the machine with respect to the useful flux. This ratio will vary inversely to the Inthe embodiment of the invention shown in Fi 1 to 3, inclusive, we may vary this ratio y varying the number of primar turns in order to vary the induction of t e machine, i. e., the m netic flux flowing through the rotor. When t e induction of the machine varies or changes, the permeability of the path 61' varies or changes and, of course, the ratios mentioned in the preceding paragraph also chan e in value in accordance therewith.

As set orth above, the number of effective turns in the secondary are also preferably changed in the same ratio that the number of effective turns in the primary are changed. This is to obtain the same secondar voltage each time the machine is adjusted. owever, as also set forth ,above, in some instances, I may prefer to change the number of effective primary turns without changing the number of effective secondary turns or vice versa so that the voltage impressed upon the output circuit will be changed. 7

Other means may be employed to vary or change the ratio of the reluctance of the paths 60 and 61 to accomplish the same results that are accomplished by changing the number of effective turns inthe windings 21 and 27. Thus,in Fig. 4", I have shown an armature 63 having an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the stator 26, the construction being such that the armature 63 may be slipped overthe stator 26 to increase the efiectlve cross sectional area of the path 61. Also, in Fig. 2, I have indicated lamlnated cores 64 formed from magnetic material which may be introduced into apertures 58 to decrease the reluctance of the path 60. The cores 64 are preferably substantially identical in construction to the cores 65 whic are shown in Fig. 7 and are hereinafter described. As stated, the cores 64 may be introduced into the apertures 58 and disposed in the apertures to var the reluctance of the magnetic path 60. arying the reluctance of the magnetic path 60 varies the ratio bettween the reluctance of the path60 and the reluctance of the path 61.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, wherein I have shown apparatus embodying another form of the invention, the reference character designates a rotary phase cone verter which comprises a Y winding 71 and a single phase winding 72,'the windings 71 and 72 being mounted in a stator 73. Associated with the stator 73 is a rotor 74 either of the pole type or of the cylindrical type having windings 75 and 76 which correspond to the aforementioned windings 34 and 35, the winding 75 being preferably of the squirrel cage type or closed circuit type although it may be replaced by a copper cylinder. The winding 76 is connected b brushes 77 and 78 and variable resistance 79 to any suitable source of uni-directional electrical current such as,-for instance, a storage battery 80.

The windin 76 may be omitted if so desired. The Y win ing71 is supplied with threephase alternatin current through conductors 81, 82 and 83 an the windin 72 is connected by conductors 85 and 86 to e ectrodes 87 and 88 respectively, of arc welding apparatus 89. Of course, the electrode 87 may comprise a piece of material upon which the welding operation is being performed.

The up aratus shown in Fi 5 to 7, inclusive, notions substantiall identically with the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4", inclusive, but it will be noted that no provision is made for changing the effective turns of the windings 71 and 72. However, I provide a plurality of preferably laminated iron cores 65 adapted to enter a rtures 90 formed in the stator 73 between t e windings 71 and 72. Obviously, magnetic paths 92 and 93 are formed in the stator 73, which magnetic paths 92 and 93 correspond to the aforementioned magnetic paths 60 and 61, respectively. The cores 65 may be mounted upon a ring, or other suitable device 95 so that they may be moved as a unit into and out of the apertures 90. Of course, the cores 65 may be manipulated to obtain the same results as are obtained by varying the effective turns of the windin 21 and 27 in the apparatus shown in 1 to 4", inclusive. I have not attempted to show the windings 71 and 72 in Fig. 7 as it is well understood that these windings would be ositioned in the slots or apertures provided in the stator. The cores 65 may have either a constant or a variable cross section. In this instance, they are ta ered.

n Fig. 8, I have shown another form of the invention embodied in a rotary phase converter which is substantially identical in construction with the rotary. phase conver ter shown in Fig. 2. However, in lace of the cores 64, I have provided a plura ity of laminated cores 100. I have only show-n one of these cores in Fig. 8 as it is readily understood that these cores would be distributed around the stator. The cores are adapted to be displaced radially with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor and it will be noted that they are positioned in slots 101 formed in the stator, the construction bein such that the ratio between the reluctance o the magnetic paths associated with the windings in the stator will be changed or varied when the cores 100 are displaced. In the a paratus shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, tl ie positions of the three phase and single phase windings may be reversed, if so desired.

Another form of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 8" in which I have shown a circuit which may be used in place of the circuit which includes the single phase winding 27 in Fig. 2. Referrin to ig. 8, 172 is a single phase winding w ich may be wound in the stator 26 in place of the by con uctors 185 and 186 to electrodes 187 and 188, respectively, of arc welding apparatus 189. Formed in the conductors 185 are cores 64.

a being so constructed that they constitute the a plurality of loops or turns 185" which are insertable in the apertures 58 provided in the stator 26, the cores 64 being first removed therefrom. The loops or turns 185 may be moved back and forth in the apertures 58 to produce substantially the same result 1n the machine as is produced by displaclng the Referring to bodied in a rotary phase converter, the reference character 105 designates a rotor which is positioned between an armature 106 and an armature 107, the armatures 106 and 107 stator for the rotor 105. It Wlll be noted that the'rotor 105 is positioned intermediate the armatures 106 and 107. A single phase winding 108 is carried by the armature 106 and a three phase winding 109 is mounted 1n slots in the armature 107, or vice versa. The rotor 105 is provided with the same kind of windings as are provided in Figs. 1 and 2. I provide a plurality of cores 112 which may be introduced into slots 113 formed in, the rotor 105, the construction being such that the cores 112 may be manipulated in the same manner as the cores 65in Fig. 7 are manipulated to vary the leakage flux of the converter. Obviously, the converter shown in Fig. 9 may be used in place of the converter 20 and 70, if so desired, and may have the same devices for the regulation of the current.

In Fig. 10, I have shown another form of the invention diagrammatically embodied in a converter which comprises a stator 115 and a rotor 116. Slots are provided in the stator 115 for windings which correspond to the aforementioned windings 21 and 27 and slots are also provided in the rotor 116 for windings which correspond to the aforementioned windings 34 and 35. The stator 115 is provided with apertures 118 which correspond to the apertures 58 provided in the aforementioned stator 26 and an armature 119 is positioned adjacent the stator and concentrically therewith so that it may be moved toward or away from the stator to vary the leakage flux of the machine. Obviously, the armature 119 functions substantially in the same manner as the aforementioned cores 64, and 100.

In Fig. 11, I'have shown another form of the invention embodied in a rotary phase converter which comprises a rotor 120 positioned between two armatures 121 and 122 which constitute the stator. The rotor 120 is provided with the same windings as the machines above mentioned. The Winding 126 is a single phase and the winding 127 is Fig. 9, wherein I have shown 1 still anothefr 'form of the invention ema three phase Y winding, or vice versa. This machine is to be used for arc welding with a regulation in series with the are, either a resistance or a reactance.

In all of the machines described above delta three phase windings or other polyphase windings may be employed, if so desired. In some instances, I may prefer to wind a part of the single phase winding in the slots for the three phase winding in order to increase thevalue of the current.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13, wherein I have shown still another form of the invention, the reference character 130 designates a stator and the reference character 131 designates: a rotor. The rotor 131 is provided with a winding 132 and preferably a winding 133, which windings 132 and 133 are sub- 'stantially identical with the aforementioned windings 34 and 35, respectively' Formed in the stator 130 are six slots identified by the reference characters 135, the-slots 135 being eguidistantly spaced from each other. Also ormed in the stator 130 are two diametrically disposed slots 137. A Y wind ing 139 is disposed in. the slots 135, the arrangement bemg such that each leg of the Y windingis positioned in a pair of dia metrically disposed slots 135. Thus, as there are three pairs of slots, each pair is wound with one of the legs of the Y winding. Positioned in the slots 137 of the stator 130 is a single phase winding 140. In practice the Y winding 139 is supplied with electrical current from an suitable source of three phase current an the single phase winding 140 is preferably connected to an arc welding apparatus, or the equivalent. This disposition of the windings 139 and 140 is such that the manufacture of the machine is relatively simple because the windings 139 and 140 can be made entirely on a form and afterwards placed in the machine. On the other hand, it is well known that in order to have the'arc start satisfactorily, it is necessary that the E. M. F. in the welding circuit acts in accordance with the curve shown in Fig. 13. All the leakage flux of the machine above mentioned held to produce this curve, but the disposition of the windings 139 and 140 in the machine Fig. 12 is specially adapted for this purpose. It will be readlly understood that all of the various methods of regulation above described may be practiced in this embodiment of the invention. Thus, I may vary the effective number of turns in the single phase and three phase windings and displace laminated cores 142 in the slots 137. The sides or legs of the windings 140 of the winding 140 are constrained to move with the cores 142, the legs must be operatively connected to each other by flexible conductors.

Any desired number of poles may be wound in the several embodiments of the invention described above and any desired number of apertures may be provided in the leakage flux paths. The converter shown in Fig. 12 has a two ole winding and has one slot per pole per p iase.

The single base and polyphase wlndings may be wound on the rotary part of the machine and the squirrel cage and direct current windings may be wound on the stator when such construction is preferred. The slots provided for the windin s may be of any suitable number, size and s ape and the apertures rovided in the leakage flux path may also be of any desired number, form and size.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts here in shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the kind described for transforming alternating current into alternating current of a different number of phases, said device having a winding for each of said currents, means for varying the effective value of said second-mentioned current while the no-load voltage thereof remains substantially unchanged, said means including means for varying the number of effective turns of said windings whereby the transformer ratio remains substantially unchanged.

2. Adevice of the kind described for transforming alternating current into alternating current of a diflcrent number of phases, said device having a winding for each of said currents, means for varying the number of effective turns in said windings to vary the effcctive value of the output current, and a plurality of movable laminated cores controlling the ratio of the reluctances of the magnetic paths associated with said windings for varying the effective value of the output current.

3. In a rotary phase converter of the kind described, a supply circuit, a load circuit, a stator, a group of windings for each circuit operatively disposed with respect to each other within said stator, a plurality of apertures in said stator, and movably mounted cores in said apertures for variation of the ratio of the reluctance of the magnetic path between said windings to the reluctance of the magnetic path of the mutual flux whereby the eflective value of load current my be regulated.

4. In a device of the kind described for transforming alternatin current into alternating current of a (fifierent number of phases, a winding for each of said currents and means for varying the effective value of I the second-mentioned current, said means in,- cluding means for the variation of the ratio of the reluctance of the magnetic path between said windings to the reluctance of the magnetic path of the mutual flux.

5. In a rotary phase converter provided with two armature windings, means for su plying alternating current to one of said windings, means for derivin current of a different number 0 phases from the other of said windings, means for va ing the effective value of the current in the astmentioned winding, said means including means for the variation of the ratio of the reluctance of the magnetic path between said windings to the reluctance of the magnetic path of the mutual flux.

6. In a rotary phase converter having two armature windings, means for sudpplying alternating current to one of sai windings, means for derivin alternating current 0 a different number 0% phases from the other of said windings, means for varying the eflective value of the current in the last-mentioned winding, said means including means for varying the number of effective turns in said windings whereb the no-load voltage in said second-mentione winding may be either adjusted or left substantially unchanged upon a change in said effective value of said current.

7. In a rotary phase converter having two armature windings, means for supplying a1- ternating current to one of said wlndln means for derivin alternating current 0 a different number 0 phases from the other of said windings, means for va ing the efiective value of the current in the ast-mentioned winding, said means including means for the variation of the ratio of the reluctance of the magnetic path between said windings to the reluctance of the magnetic path of the mutual flux, and means for varying the number of effective turns in each of said windings to retain the transformer ratio and the no-load voltage either adjustable or substantially unchanged.

8. A rotary phase converter of the kind described for transforming alternating current into alternating current of a different number of phases, said converter comprising a stator having windings therein for each phase group and having a plurality of magnetic paths associated with said phase groups, one of said magnetic paths being arranged between said phase groups, said stator having a plurality of apertures therein located in one of said magnetic paths, and laminated alternating cores movably mounted in said apertures for varying the effective value of the secondmentioned current by variation of the ratio of the reluctance of one of said magnetic paths to the other.

9. A rotary phase converter of the kind described for transforming alternating current into alternating current of a different number of phases, said converter comprising a stator having a Winding for each of said currents and having magnetic paths associated with said windings, and means movable with respect to said stator for varying the ratio between the reluctance of one of said paths and the reluctance of the other to Vary the effective current induced in one of said Windings.

' In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

MARCEL MONEYRON. 

